Electric clock.



No. 630,178. Patented Aug. I, I899.

R. BURK.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

Application filed Nov. 6, 1897..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Rlfllrl'Ah-D l-llil'RK, OF SOHROENNINGEN, GE :tMAN Y.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,178, dated August 1, 1899.

Application filed November 6, 1897. Serial No. 657,698. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, RICHARD B URK, a citizen ot the Empire of Germany, residing at Schroenningen, in the Kingdom of Wiirtemberg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Operated Clocks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in electric clocks.

The electric clock which forms the object of the presentinvention belongs to that kind of similar clocks in which the pendulum operates the train by means of a pawl and in which the closing of the operating-circuit takes place only when a certain minimum oscillation of the pendulum is attained. in which event an electromagnet is energized and a fresh impulse is imparted to the pendulum.

My invention consists in so constructing the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism which transmits the motion of the pendulum to the clocktrain that when the oscillations of the pendulum reach their minimum the pawl itself serves to close the operating-circuit, and thereby give another impulse to the pendulum.

The invention will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and then particularly pointed in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a detail front elevation of so much of an electric clock as is necessary to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2, a top plan view, and Fig. 8 a detail sectional View, of the same; Fig. 4, an enlarged detail elevation of the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism, and Figs. 5 and 6 two still further enlarged detail views showing the pawl-andratchet mechanism in two different positions.

Referring to the drawings, A is the rear frame-plate of the clockwork, which latter is driven by a reciprocating pendulum B, by means of a pawl D and a ratchet-wheel E. Behind the pendulum and separated from the plate A by a strip R of insulating material there is arranged a contact-piece it, over which extends a lateral continuation d of the pawl D. Alever G, provided with a counterweight g, is pivoted at g in front of the ratchet-wheel E, but also within reach of the pawl D, and when in position of repose is supported by a pin 9 M M are terminals, the latter of which, M is also insulated from the plate A.

This arrangement works in the following manner, which is shown most clearly in the diagram in Figs. 5 and 6: \Vith a maximum oscillation of the pendulum A-that is to say, shortly after the latter has received an impulse from the electromagnets, (which are not here shown)-the amount of angular movement of the ratchet-wheel E produced by the pawl D is equal to the pitch of the teeth on the wheel E-that is to say, the extent of rotation is such that the wheel E during the normal vibration of the pendulum always and successively remains standing with one of the teeth in proximity to the up per point of the lever G, or rather with the next indentation which is to be engaged by the pawl D above the point of this lever G. The pa wl'D, therefore, during such maxim um pendulum oscillations never engages the lateral face of the lever G to impart an oscillation to the latter; but on engaging with the wheel E the said pawl will always hear on the upper end of the lever G and on the rotation of the wheel E will slide along this end (see Figs. 4 and 5) without its arm at encountering the contact-piece it. If, however, the pendulum oscillations become smaller, the wheel E no longer rotates a distance equal to the pitch of the teeth, and the position shown in Figs. 1 and 6 is soon reached, in which the wheel E remains standing with one indentation in front of the point of the lever G. On

the next oscillation of the pendulum, therefore, the pawl D drops to the bottom of the indentation, the arm 61 of the pawl D encounters the contactpiece h, and the circuit is closed through the latter, the pawl D, the pendulum B, and the plate A, so that the electromagnet is excited and attracts the pendulum, thus imparting to the same a fresh impulse.

The maximum duration of engagement'of the pawl D with the wheel E and lever G and of the interruption of the closed circuit is determined on the one hand by a roller J and on the other hand by the beveling r of the insulating-piece R, on which the arm (Z of the pawl slides at the end of the pendulum oscillations.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. In an electric device of the class described, the combination, with a ratchetwheel, a pawl arranged to engage the same, and means for moving the pawl varying distances, of a movable device arranged to prevent the full entrance of the pawl between the teeth of the ratchet-wheel during the normal movement of the pawl, a contact device arranged to be engaged by the pawl when it makes a full entrance between the teeth of the ratchet-wheel and an electric circuit closed by the engagement of the pawl with the contact device.

In an electric clock, the combination with a ratchet-wheel, a pawl arranged to operate the ratchet-wheel, and means for moving the pawl varying distances, of a movable device arranged to prevent the full entry of the pawl between the teeth of the ratchet wheel during the normal movement of the pawl, an electric circuit and a circuit-closing device actuated by the full entrance of the pawl between the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, whereby the circuit is closed.

3. In an electric clock, the combination, with a ratchet-wheel, a pawl arranged to operate the ratchet-wheel and a pendulum to which the pawl is connected, of a movable device arranged to prevent the full entry of the pawl between the teeth of the ratchetwheel during the normal movement of the pawl, a contact device arranged to be engaged by the pawl when it makes a full entran ce between the teeth of the ratch etavhecl, an electric circuit arranged to be closed by the engagement of the pawl with the contact device, and a magnet included in the circuit and arranged to operate the pendulum.

4. In an electric clock, the combination, with a ratchet-wheel, a pawl arranged to engage the ratchet-wheel, means for lifting the pawl from the ratchet-wheel at the end of its stroke, a movable device for preventing a full entrance of the pawl between the teeth of the ratchet wheel at the middle of its stroke, a contactdevice arranged to be engaged by the pawl when the pawl fully enters between the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, an electric circuit arranged to be closed by the engagement of the pawl with the contact device, and a magnet included in the circuit and arranged to operate the pendulum.

5. In an electric clock, the combination, with a ratchet-wheel, a pawl engaging the ratchet-wheel, and a pendulum to which the pawl is connected, of devices in the path of the pawl for lifting it from the ratchet-wheel at each end of its maximum stroke, a swinging lever having one end in the path of the pawl and a short distance inside the periphery of the ratchet-wheel, an arm carried by the pawl, a contact device adapted to engage the pawl, a circuit arranged to be closed by the engagement of the pawl with the contact device, and a magnet included in the circuit and arranged to operate the pendulum.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. H

RICHARD BURK.

Witnesses:

ALBERT GoLL, CI-IN. BAUER. 

